Removing tool for vacuum jar caps



March 21, 1950 BOUCHER 2,501,205

REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUM JAR CAPS Filed June 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1In ven for p Elm file BOUCILBIT March 21, 1950 E. e. BOUCHER 2,501,205

REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUM JAR CAPS Filed June 21,1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Efllile BOLLC/Zl'.

March 1950 E. G. BOUCHER ,501,

REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUM JAR CAPS Filed June 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3I' ILQ', 11.

LARGE j 'Jnvenior EnL ile G. Bout/Z81. I

attorneys Etflamh 21,, 119% E. G. BOUCHER 9 U REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUMJAR CAPS Filed June 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fziai 11 I N V EN TOR.Eadie G. Bouclzer BY March 21, 1950 ouc 2,501,205

REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUM JAR CAPS Filed June 21, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. Enuile G BOuC/ZQP attorneys Patented Mar. 21 1950 UNITED:STATES PATENT OFFICE REMOVING TOOL FOR VACUUM J AR CAPS EmileeG.Boucher, Baltimore, Md.

Application "June 21, 1946; Serial No. 678,435

6 Claims. (Cl. 1 81--3.46)

This invention relates to "devicessfor removing caps'and'lids of jarsand'other containers and more-particularly to a tool which is especiallyadapted to remove caps orclosures of the pressedon typefrom glass jars;tumblers and other types of containers;

In myprior application Serial Number 647;.900, file'd"February-15,-1946;entitled -'Jar cap remover, there are disclosed several types of pryingtools which are readily adaptable 'for the quick and eflicien't removalof jar caps orclosures from jars of different sizes: The presentinvention constitutesan improvementover the inventions of the priorapplication and includes a novel construction whichnot only -retainsallof thedesir-able features 'of the prior inventions," but also addsanarrangementfor "efiiciently removing caps or-closures from' -jellyglasses and similar types-of containers without marring and bending suchcaps or closures out of shape.

The principal object of-the present invention is to provide anovelunitary tool which-is capable of quickly removing caps and lids" fromjars, bottles; tumblers and "other types of containers of varioussizesrwithout-marring or bendingthe cap or lid, and :withoutachipping'orcracking thecontain'erp" Aa-further object is to provide a tool ofthe above character which includesa novel-arm construction which isadaptedto-fit beneath the lower edge "of'the rlm'of the cap andwhichinclude's "cam surfaces "which 'cooperate with the shoulder orflange of the-jar to secure'a powerful camming action to remove-the capupon manipulation'of the'tool'with a minimum 'of effort Another object"is to provide anovel arrangement" in atool of the foregoing typewhichincludes a tooth 'or' book which'is adapted to fit beneath theskirtor flange-of a cap of the jelly glass type, I and which cooperateswith the arms of-the tool: to quickly removethe cap with littleefiortandWithout bending the cap.

A stillfurther obj ect" resides in providing -a universal tool orintegral and unitary construetion which includes a number of cooperatingparts for removing caps and 'lids ofvarious sizes from glassor-metal'containers, the invention be-= ing particularly usefulin'connection with those containers wherein the caps are securelymaintained' insealingposition by partially evacuating the interior ofthecontainers.

Anothenobject'is to provide a tooliof the above type which=is relativelysimple in construction and which may bemanufactured at a. relatively lowcost: r

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the following detailed descriptionwhen taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings. It is to. beexpressly understood however, that the *drawingsrare utilized forpurposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definitionrof'therlimits.oitheinvention, reference being had'for thiszpm'pose tothe appended claims;

Referring: to :the drawings iwherein similar reference characters.;.refer to:- similar parts throughout: the several views:

Fig-.11 isi a'planzview of..a tool constructedcin accordance with-theprinciples'of the present in-' vention;

Fig. 2 is aside view of thetool of Fig. 1;.

Fig 3 is a sectional view of the too10-taken.substantially along .line-3--3 of Fig.1;

Figs; 4 and 4a are side views of .the' tool associated with twodifferenttypes of conventional glass jars;

Fig 5 is apartial sectional view-of thearm 28 taken substantially alongline 5-5 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a partial side view (of one of the arms of the tool, when theeap of. Fig. 4a has been partially removed;

Fig. '7 is-a plan view of one end of the 'tool shown as being associatedwith the eap of a jar of the jelly glass type;

Fig. 8 is apartial' side view of one of the arms of the tool of'Figt-7;"

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the other end of thetool shown associated with''the- 'caplo f a jelly glass type of container;

Fig. 10 isa partial side'view of one of the arms of the tool of Fig. 9;

Fig. 1'1 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the relationship of the teeth onthe arms of the tool for jars and capsof different sizes;

12 is a partial side'view of-one of the arms showing a modified type ofcap-remover;

Fig. 13 is a front'viewof the tool'of Fig-12;

Fig 14 is a plan I view of 1 a slightly modified:

form of cap removing tool;

Fig. -15 is a sectional.viewtakenalong line Fig. 16 is'a side view ofthe modified tool as sociatedwith "a conventional glass jar 'of thetypehaving-a rounded shoulder and used for packing coffee and othercommodities Fig. 17 isa' side view of a modified form of armarm-construction taken on line 7 I 8l 8 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the under side of one of the arms of the toolof Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of still another type of cap removing tool;

Figs. 21 and 22 are sectional views taken respectively along lines 2l2land 22-22 of Fig. 20;

Figs. 23 and 24 are plan views of modified forms of single arm capremoving tools, and

Fig. 25 is a constructional view of the arms of the tool of Fig. 14.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a cap removing tool 20embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated thereinas including a handle part 22 provided at its opposite ends withspaced-apart pairs of arms 24, 26 and 28, 38, each of said arms beingpreferably form d integrally with the handle part 22. As will appearmore fully hereinafter, the arms 24 and 26 are adapted to remove caps ofthe pressed-on type from bottles of different sizes, such as thosepresently used for packaging chili sauce, fruit juices, etc. Arms 28 and30, on the other hand are employed for removing caps from conventionaltypes of glass jars of different sizes used at the present time topackage canned vegetables, fruits, etc.

More particularly, and referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the tool 20 ispreferably formed at one end with a downwardly curved portion 32 whichincludes the spaced-apart arms 28 and which extend forwardly of the tooland which are arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spacedbelow the plane of the handle part 22. The opposite end of the tool issimilarly formed with a downwardly curved portion 34 which includes thespaced-apart arms 24 and 26, these latter preferably projecting slightlyupwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, although they can be arranged in a planeparallel to but spaced below the plane of the handle part 22, ifdesired,

In order to adapt the arms 28 and 30 for removing caps from differentsize jars, each of the arms are provided with one or more teeth,projections or prongs which are automatically and selectively operabledepending upon the size of the cap to be removed. As illustrated, thearm 28, for example, may be provided with three teeth 36, 38 and 40which cooperate respectively with the lower rims of the flanges of thelarge, medium and small sizes of caps. Arm 30 on the other hand, may beprovided with teeth 42 and 44, the former being for use with the largersizes of caps while the latter is employed for the intermediate andsmaller sizes. In each instance, the teeth 38, 4D and 44 are formed bycurved cut-away portions, as shown in Fig. 1 while the teeth 36 and 42are formed on the remote corners of the arms. In this manner, the armsare readily adapted for the removal of difierent size caps without thenecessity of making any adjustments whatever.

In using the tool for removing the caps, the arms are applied beneaththe lower rim of the jar cap as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4a. In theselatter figures the jars shown are of conventional type. For example thejar 46 of Fig. 4 is provided with a reduced neck 4'! having a beaded rim48 for receiving the cap 58, and a shoulder 52 with which the arms 28and 30 cooperate. In Fig. 4a, the jar 54 is likewise provided with areduced neck 41 having a beaded rim 56 for receiving the cap 58, but isformed with an outwardly directed flange, shoulder or bead 58 with whichthe arms 28 and 38 cooperate. It is desired to point out that the frontedges 60 and 62 of the arms 28 4 and 38 are generally curved, as shownin Fig. 1 and that when such edges are projected beneath the rim of thecap they come into contact with the neck of the jar. However, thecurvature of the edges and the location of the teeth on said edges aresuch that irrespective of the size of the cap to be removed, the teethwill not project too far beneath the flange or skirt of the cap, duringremoval thereof, as to engage and become locked with the lower edges ofthe rims 48 or 56 of the jars. Preferably, a pair of stops 64 and 66 inthe form of integral lugs are respective- 13 formed on the remote edgesof the arms 28 and 30 in order to limit the movement of the arms beneaththe flange of the cap so as to likewise prevent the teeth from becominglocked with the lower edges of the rims 48 or 56 of the jars, when usingthe tool with the larger sizes of jars.

In operation, after application of the arms beneath the cap rim, asshown in Figs. 4 and 4a, it is only necessary to press the handle part22 downwardly whereupon a powerful camming or levering action betweenthearms 28, 3D and the shoulders 58 or 52 will ensue. More particularly, asthe handle is moved downwardly, the inner or adjacent edges 29 and 3| ofthe respective arms 28 and 38 will rest upon the shoulders 52 or 58while certain of the teeth on the arms will project beneath the flangeof the cap, depending upon the size ca to be removed. The cooperationbetween said adjacent edges and the jar, during the downward movement ofthe handle produces the camming action referred to, and the cap isremoved with very little effort and without marring or bending the same.The action of the arms, in removing the cap is shown more par ticularlyin the partial view of Fig. 6, and from this figure it will be readilyseen that each of the arms pivots or fulcrums about either the innermostcorners of the arms Y28 and 30 or along the adjacent edges 29 or 3|,depending upon the size or type of jar from which the cap is beingremoved. This action causes an automatic effective twisting of each armabout its fulcrum in order to remove the cap with a powerful levering orcamming force. During the above operation, it is pointed out that as thecap is removed, the operative teeth for the particular size of cap willmove in toward the jar during the pivotal movement of the arms and thiscauses a firmer fulcrum to be secured between the adjacent edges of thearms 28 and 30 andthe shoulders 52 or 58. Such inward movement alsocompensates for the natural outward movement of the teeth due to the areof travel-of the arms 28 and 30, and thus a firmer contact between theoperative teeth and rim of the cap is secured. Moreover, the aforesaidinward movement achieves a substantially vertical camming lift of thecap to avoid any distortion of the cap skirt which would cause the skirtto be sprung outof-round and which would prevent removal of the cap dueto the binding of the distorted skirt of the cap around the mouth of thejar.

Referring to the arms 24 and 26 at the opposite end of the tool, itwillbe observed that the outer edges thereof are generally curved toapproximate the curvature of the necks of jars of the smaller sizes aswell as conventional bottles for packaging fruit juices, chili sauces,etc. In order to adapt the arms for different size jars and bottles, arm24 is provided with a pair of teeth 68, 18 while arm 26 is formed with apair of teeth 12 and 14. In use, the arms arepro- .tl'es of:v largersizes.

;ferent. size jars.

.aiaoigaoc 1 iected beneath therimcofxtheshottleicapand teeth It; and 11lz-will become operativesto. remove reaps from .small necked bottles.while teeth -;68 sand '12 will function to removeicapsxfrom.jarswandbot-The; 'camming; action durv ingroperation is: precisely thesamelas;heretofore described, itybeing. understood; that conventional.biottles.havingipressed-oncaps are provided with beadsor flanges.similar to 58 of Figs-4a, and that during the'removalof the cap, theadjacent edges 16 and-v18; of the arms fulcrum upon. such beadorqfiange. It,is;: desired to.pint out: thatthe .outenedgesofrthe :arms2 4 and 2.6 are formed with curved cuteaway portions. 80;and 82' whichfunction :as-stops :when .the. teeth ,68 and 12 are .coop- "era-tingtogremove .a .cap .More particularly, such portions "engagethe;lowerwedge of..the skirt: of

;the.--:cap; and. prevent. the;teeth 68.. and .12 from projectingr toofar beneathxthe rim of. the: cap during the cap :removing operation -astobecome. locked beneath ;,the :lowerzedge of. the beaded rim of:thejar.

One of the: features of. the .present invention is torlocate. theteeth.36,:,38 ,;40, 42. and, in such position, .that when;theycooperate. in removing A caps of difierent sizes, a minimum of effortwill be required. Referring more particularly to Fig. 11;;tiiere isdisclosed therein, the angular relationship-.bettveen the cooperativeteeth fordif- For example, for large caps,.-. denoted by thelegend.Large, with teeth 42 and -,36-.cooperating, itzis seen that theincludedangle therebetween' isshown .ata. On the other, hand,

.80.? to 9.0" and preferably about;85. With such .:an angularity,aminimumofzeffortis requiredto;

remove the caps.

A':.further:important .feature of :theapresent in vention resides inthe; incorporationiin the tool heretofore described, of. av novelconstruction for quickly and efiiciently removing caps from,con--tamerssofztherjelly glass typegwithout marring or bending the.-cap.Heretofore; caps-of this type haveebeenopened with a hook-type ofopener, whichfrequently breaks the tumbler or so multilatestthe cap thatreplacement on 1 the glass is.

impossible. This: is quite undesirable since in the;,.case:.of dnanycommodities, such as jellies and jams, the entire contents are not usedat once and in order'to properly preserve the rest of the contents,- itis necessary to transfer'the-same to a' different type of containerhaving a closable lid.

More particularly-and referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 'Iand 8, the presentinvention includes a hook 82 of substantial breadth, which ispreferablyformed integrally with the tool 20 and is positioned betweenthe arms 28 and 30. Asshownin Fig. 1,

.the outer. edge vfi iiof the h0ok. 82.is slightly, curved .in plan,from one side to theother, andv as shown in-.Eig. .3, .may be projectedslightly. downwardly inorder to;more readily fit beneath the rim of acap; It willalso be understood that the hook .82kmay be; thicker whereitjoins-the body of "the tooLand may be:tapered. ;toward. itsouter edger84;; so as; to; permit? theahook'; 82.- .to:,. enter easily thespace-between; the-.rskirtiv'ora flanges of the: cap and the outside.:of.: the: tumbler:

In:.Figs. '7 and. 8 e the tool .20 :isi illustratedi-ias applied to acap 88 of a jelly glass or. tumbler type oficontainer.x8'l; which;asistwellknown, is

not provided .With aeneck iorffiange I as.;in theicase ofthexjars Mirror'54 of Figs; 4. and 4a. .=As:.wil1 readily appear' from: these figures;when .therrtool is applied, the outer-edge284 ofthe hoolc'r82 projects:beneath. the. skirt I or: flange? 86'. of: the

- captBBwhiletheadjacenttedges.29-andi3fl of the arms 28 and30' engagethe upper peripheral portion-or edge'tltofthe cap, at'spacedapartapoints,

.1see particularly Fig.27. withqthe partssinzthis position, it'will beobserVedfrom*-Fig. '7, thatzthe included angled betweentheadjacentedgeszrZB and 3| is the sameas-theanglesmbandclof'Fig.

.11. -and applicantv has found that this-"angle is also such as :toreadily and. quickly remove'rcaps ofthe typesof: thecap..88=;-fromrdifferentisizescon- 'tainerswith a minimum of effort.

: Inoperation, and with the. tool assembledJ-as shown in Figs. 7 and 8,it is only necessaryui-to raise the handle part22 of the tool toieffectremovalz-of the cap. Moreparticularly, as the' tool is raised, the hook82 springsrthe lower. portion of the flange 86- outwardly,and'the-portiOn of the-cap between the adjacent edges-29 and 3110f.theaarmsis sprung upwardly; This action-breaks the. sealbetween the capgasket and :the rim of the container and 'consequently destroys thepartial-vacuum within the container. A'sthis action takes place, thehook slides further between" the flange of the cap and the wall'of-thejar'and-per- :mits the edges ES-and 3! of the: arms 28wandIitrespectively, to slide-outwardly on the/edge 89.0fthe cap 88.Continuedmovementiof the tool removes ."the cap from thet'container"andzthe 'sprung portion' above referred to, springs back iintoiits formershape and:1eaves:the; cap:in,.its

' original condition for recappingrtheacontainer:

It will be noted: from-the 'abovesexplanation: of the operationorthetool, that the edges ,291and 3| of the arms bear directly upon theedge 89iof the cap at; spaced: apart points; This; action is highly,advantageous since the -:force :reaction"L is :taken by thereinforcedbeaded rim'of the econtainerzimmediately beneath such points.Aimtheradvantage accrues from the operation of, the hook 82in springingout a. portionofthe: flange 85-, duringremoval-of the-cap. Thisactionensuresthat the edge 84 ofrthe hookwill not engage the reinforced beadedrim 'of the containerror the surface ofthe containerto scratch or::crackthe same. From the above it will readilybe seen that; the. angularity.of; the arms 28 and -30;j:to-

.getherwith-the shape and location of. thehhook -82"enables.caps ofdifferentvsizes to,1be..-qu.iokly and readilyv removed withaminimumcofeffort and without damagingthe cap.,-or; the rim: oirthe container.

If desired the-tool 20 maybe ,iprovided -.with a pair ofspaced aparthooks and 92 on its upper side, see Figs. 1 and 2, which maybe used'tOTI'E" move caps fromjelly, glass typencontainers; in lieu-off. thehook.82. In such event, the:t0o1 is turned over, whenapplied to. thecontainerecap 88- andthe hooks--90 and 92" fitted beneath'the lower-edgeof the flange 86 and with'the upper portions of thearms28- and 30, asviewed in Fig. 1,

:in contact with thetop surface. of thecapmSB. Upward movementof thetool will again' spring the-flange 86L-ofjthe cap-88- outwardlyxand; up-

wardly to break the seal andremovezthebap.

.Itrwill .besunderstood :that zone hookimayibe used 'in'the'manner ofthe two hooks 90 and 92, in

which event, the single hook is positioned between the points wherehooks 90 and 92 are positioned in Fig. 1.-

A further type of cap remover for containers of the jelly glass typeincludes the provision of a hook 94 formed integrally with the oppositeend of the tool and positioned intermediate the arms 24 and 26. In usingthis form of the invention, the hook 94 is placed beneath the rim 86 ofthe cap 88, with the arms resting on the top of the cap at theperipheral portion 89 thereof, see Figs. 9 and 10. Here again, upwardmovement of the handle part 22 will serve to spring the flange 86outwardly and upwardly and the top may be readily removed withoutpermanently bending the same out of shape.

A further form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. Inthis form, each of the arms 28 and 30 are provided with hooks 86 and 98which are directed forwardly and adapted to cooperate with the lower rimof the flange 86 in the manner shown in Fig. 12. In this case, due tothe use of a pair of hooks, the flange is gripped and sprung at twospaced apart points, and the cover is readily removed.

Figs. 14 through 19 illustrate a further modified form of the inventionwherein the arms 28 and 30 are provided with additional teeth in orderto accommodate the tool to a wide variety of jar caps of differentsizes, and wherein a novel construction is employed for eifectivelyremoving caps from jars of the type having a substantially wide shoulderspaced a substantial distance below the cap rim and which jars are atpresent utilized for packing coffee and like commodities. Here again,the construction is such that the caps are quickly removed with verylittle effort and with no damage to the rim of the cap or to the neck ofthe jar. Thus, in the event that only a portion of the contents of thejar are to be used, the cap may be readily pressed back on the jar andthe freshness of the contents maintained.

More particularly, and referring to Figs. 14-16, the modified form oftool I includes the substantially wide and spaced-apart arms 28 and 30at one end of the handle 22 and the substantially wide and spaced-apartarms, 24 and 26 positioned at the other end of the handle. Each of thearms 28 and 30 are provided with a plurality of teeth in order to adaptthe tool for removing caps of diiferent sizes, and for example, arm 28may include teeth I02, I04, I06 and I08 while arm 30 may be formed withteeth IIIJ, II2 and H4. Each of these teeth is preferably formed bycutting away a curved portion of the outer edge of the arms in order toprovide a definite hooked tooth formation, as clearly illustrated. Theteeth are moreover formed in such manner that the sides thereof, at II6, H8, I20, I22 and I24 limit the distance the teeth may project underthe rims of caps of various sizes during the removal of the caps fromthe jars, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

As in the case of the tool of Fig. 1, it will be understood that in use,the tool I00 may be applied to the jars of Figs. 4 and 4a insubstantially the same manner, that is, the forward edges of the armsare positioned in the space between the lower edge of the skirt or rimof the cap and the shoulders 52 or 58, following which the handle 22 ispressed downwardly to effect the camming action heretofore referred toand the ready removal of the cap. This action produces an effective'twisting or pivotal movement of each arm about the edges 29 and 3| whichlatter rest upon the'parts 52 or 58. It will be understood that thestops 64 and 68 prevent the teeth I02--I I0 from projecting too farbeneath the rim of the cap, with certain of the larger sizes of jars, asto engage and become locked beneath the glass rim of the jar, but doesnot prevent the teeth I02-I In from positively hooking the lower edge ofthe cap, which these teeth do, so that the lower edge of the cap doesnot slide out of engagement with these teeth while the cap is beingremoved from the jar. With respect to jars having caps of a size whichcooperate with the teeth I04, I06, I08, I I2 and H4, the sides of suchteeth serve to limit the distance the teeth may project under the rimsof the caps when the latter are being removed. For example, when theteeth I04 and H2 engage the rim of a cap of a size for which they aredesigned, as the tool is pivoted in the manner indicated in Fig. 6, thesides I24 and H6 at first clear the outer periphery of the rim of thecap. As the tool is further pivoted and the outer edges of the arms arefurther fulcrumed or twisted about the inner edges 29 and SI, the sidesI24 and H6 engage the outer periphery of the cap and thereby limit thedistance the teeth I04, I06, I08, I t2 and I I4 project under the rim ofthe cap during the removal operation. Such limiting action is veryimportant to the proper functioning of the tool inasmuch as catching orlocking of the teeth beneath the rim or bead of the glass jar isprevented. It will also be understood that with the smaller sizes ofjars, the corners MI and I43 01' the teeth 108 and H4 engage the neck ofthe jar and function as stops to prevent any of the remaining teeth ofthe arms 28 and 30 from projecting too far under the cap and lockingunder the rim of the jar when the cap is being removed.

The arms 28 and 30 are cut away at 29 and 3I, respectively, so that theinnermost corners MI and I43 engage the shoulders of jars of certaintypes throughout substantially the entire lifting action of the tool andslide inwardly over the shoulder of the jar toward the neck of the jaras the handle is pivoted downwardly. That is, the arms 28 and 30 are cutaway sufficiently and are curved sufficiently so that no other portionsthan the innermost corners MI and I43 engage the jar shoulder at thestart of the cap removing operation. Hence, the powerful startingleverage of the tool is not diminished at the start of the cap removingoperation. However, the distance between the innermost corners HI andI43 from the respective teeth I02 and H0 is sufficient to provide amplelifting movement of the teeth I02 and H0 to easily force the cap off thejar.

It will be noted from Fig. 14 that the forward portion of the toolbetween the arms 28 and 30 is cut away at I45 to provide sufiicientclearance so that when the tool is in operation the pivoting movement ofthe tool will not be limited through contact with the shoulder of thejar.

With respect to the arms 24 and 26, it will be observed that they areprovided with curved front edges I25 and I2! which generally approximatethe curvature of the necks of jars of the smaller sizes as well as jarsand bottles usually employed for bottling fruit juices, chili sauce andsimilar commodities. The arms however are provided with teeth I26 andI28 adjacent the outer-or remote corners thereof while stops I30 andI32, preferably formed integrally with the arms and extending upwardlytherefrom, see Fig. 15;.are

asomo-s provided for:preventing.;movement:.of :the teeth I26 and I28 toofar beneath theirimof'the' cap when: the-tool is in use, inorder-.toprevent catching the teeth under the rim :or extended portionof 'the mouth of the jar soreneck ofthebottle.

Such a construction :enables ready removal of caps from jars'of'thesmaller sizes while the edges I 25 and I 2"! come into play whenremoving .the

relatively. small. caps from bottles of the type bevelled notches I34:and I36 which are provided jar neck beneath the'cap I35, see'Figs. 14and 16.

The handle 22 may theni'be raised in order to engage the-bevellednotches "I34 and I36 with .the

lower edge I3'I 'oftherimofthe cap and'to'bring the1edgesl38 and I40into contact with the-inner periphery'of the lower edge oftherim of thecap;

At this time the outermost. or most remote teeth I02 and IIO of'the arms28 and.30 rest upon :the wide shoulder l42 of the jar I33. is onlynecessary to raisethe handle of the tool Thereafter, it I in order topry off the cap,'it being understood that during this'operation,:theteeth IIIZandI II? will slidealongthe shoulder I42; .the .rim of the cap135 being firmly heldffrom slipping away from'the arms 28 and'tll by.the hooking action of the ledges I38-a1'1dI I49." It. will .beobservedfrom the above operation,:that the outer. teeth: I 02 and H6 functionas: fulcrum pointszwhile the ledges I38 and .Mfiare located sufficientlyclose to the iulcrumpoints, to getan exceedingly powerfulcammingt'action upon the :cap when the handle is raised, and the arms.28 and. 30 are pivoted for twisted about such fulcrum points,

I-Ioweven'the ledges I38.=and I40 are, sufliciently far irom'the'sefulcrumpointsthatthe ledges are r'aisedsufiiciently to remove the capfromthe 10 may. bepositionedradjacent the innercorners MI and ;I43 ofthearms 28 and 3Ilfor positively engagingtheinnerperiphery of the cap rimin the samemanner as the ledges I38 and I40. For ex- ;ample, the inneredges-of the arms may-be provided-with short upstanding lugs or hooksI44 adjacent to the inner corners I4! and I43, see Fig. 17, or the outeredgeof each arm mayinclude a short upstanding lug I46 atthe inner cornerrthereof, see Fig. :18; In all of theseconstructions, theledge orlugislocated at orclosely adjacent theinneror adjacent corners of the arms28" and 30in order to obtain the powerful camming action heretoforereferred-to and to preventthe... :cap rimifrom slipping ofi such cornersduring removal'cf the cap.

In addition to .the foregoing, the tool may-if desired, beturnedoverandtheunder sidesof the...

armsiliand 39 employed. forremoving the cap I35,-in .which event,theunder suriacesof each arm .28.andv30.may be..provided with abutmentssimilar to.,I44 .or I46; Preferably a notch I48 similar. tothe notchesI34 and is cut out of the adjacent sides of the under surface of .each.

:arm 28 and.3fl and located near the. innercorners thereof, see Fig. 19,when the tool is to be used in this manner, such notches engaging thecap rim and preventing any slipping action during removal .of. the .cap.It will. be understood that when the .tool is employed in such fashionthe top surfaces of the lugs or stops 64 and t6 engage and slide alongthe shoulder I42 of the jar I33 during raising of the handle to pry OKthe cap. If desired, the stops 54 and 66 may be shortened, in whichevent the extreme outer portions or corners of the arms 28 and st or theteeth I82 and HG will engage and slide along the shoulder I42 duringoperation of the tool in the above described manner.

As in the case of Fig. 1, the tool IIlll'is provided with a hook 82 forremoving caps from jars or containers of the tumbler or jelly glasstype.

This type of container is provided with a beaded rim and lacks anyshoulder beneath the lower edge of the beadedrim. It will be noted fromFig. 15, that the hook projects outwardly from the curved portion orflange 32 and is arranged in a plane-substantially parallel to theplaneof the arms 28' and '30 and in a plane above the plane of'said arms whenthe latter are positioned in a horizontal plane. This constructionisimportant since when the tool is applied to a jar inthe manner shown inFigs. 7 andS, the hook will readily slip between the skirt of the capand the exterior Wall of'the jar, and will occupy a plane closelyapproaching the vertical plane of the skirt '86 of the cap 88. Thus, asthe'handle 220i the tool is 'movedupwardly to remove the cap, the hook82 will spring the skirt 86' outwardly and the forward edge of the bookwill readilyclear the beaded rim of the jar. Hence,'anyjdan-.

ger oi-the'hook interlocking beneath thebead'rim of the'jar is avoided.

A further form of :the invention is illustrated in Figs.20-22.;and-includes ahandle I50 provided. witha pair'of diverging-armsI52and I54 having edges I56 and use respectively which are adaptedtoffitrinthespace between therimof the-capandtheifiangezor shoulderofjars ofv the 7 general typeshown in Figs. 4 and 4a. Preferably tain afirm and non-slipping contact with the rim of the cap, and preferablythe lower edges of the saw teeth are cut away at I62 to permit the loweredges to have a firm hold on the glass flange of the jar in removing thecap. Each arm is provided with a stop I64 which functions to prevent theedges I56 and I58 from projecting too far beneath the rim of the cap andlocking with the rim 48 or 56 on the glass jar.

In operation, after the edges I56 and I58 are positioned between the rimof the cap and the bead or flange of the jar, the handle I50 may beeither raised or lowered to easily and effectively pry off the cap.Should the handle be lowered, it will be understood that the stops I64of the arms prevent the edges I56 and I58 from projecting too farbeneath the rim of the caps as to interlock beneath the glass flange ofthe jar. However, if the handle is raised, it will be understood thatthe cap itself acts as a stop to prevent the edges and the saw teethfrom projecting too far beneath the cap rim. The use of the upwardlyprojecting saw teeth I60 on one or both of the edges I56, I58 serves tosecure a firm grip upon the cap rim so that during operation of thetool, there will be no danger of slipping.

Figs. 23 and 24 illustrate further modifications of the inventionwherein the tools are provided with a single arm which is adapted to betwisted. raised, or lowered in order to remove jar and bottle caps ofdifferent sizes. For example, in Fig. 23, the tool I66, of fiat metalstock, is provided with a single arm I 88 having a curved front edgeI10, to fit the neck of bottles to prevent the arm I68 slipping off thebottle when removing the cap and also to allow the opposite extremitieswhich are provided with cutaway portions I12 and I14 defining cornerteeth I16 and I18 to get deeper under the cap and getting a firm holdwhile removing the cap. Rounded shoulders I80 and I82 are also providedon the arm while upstanding lugs I 84, I86, similar to the lugs 64 and66 of Fig. 1, serve as stops to prevent the teeth from projecting toofar beneath the cap rim.

In the case of the tool I61 of Fig. 24. the cutaway portions I12 may bedeeper than in the case of the tool of Fig. 23, in order to define stopedges I 88 and I90, which function in the same manner as the stops I84and I86. The tool I61 is moreover provided with curved portions I92 andI94 for a purpose which will appear more fully hereinafter.

In using the tool I66. the edge I is placed between the lower edge ofthe skirt of the cap and the flange or shoulder of the jar or bottle andgiven a twisting motion whereupon the rim of the cap 50, see Figs. 4 and4a. will be received within the cutaway portion I14, for example, whilethe tooth I16 will rest upon the flange or bead of the bottle or jar.The twisting motion referred to takes place about the longitudinal axisof the tool, and a continuance of this motion will readily remove thecap, it being noted that the stops I84 and I86 will prevent the teethI16 and I18 from projecting too far beneath the cap rim.

The tool I61 of Fig. 24 is applied to the jar in like manner and whentwisted, the cap rim will be received within the cutaway portion I14,for example, while the tooth I16 will rest upon the flange or shoulderof the jar. Further twisting movement will readily effect the removal ofthe cap, it being noted that during this operation the stop edges I88and I90 function as stops to limit 12 the distance the teeth I18 and I18may project beneath the cap rim.

In using either the tool I66 or the tool I61 to remove caps from jars ofthe type shown in Fig.

:16, it will be understood that after the front edge H0 is placedbeneath the cap rim and the tool twisted, shoulders I80, I82, or thecurved portions I92, I94 will rest upon the shoulder I42 of the jar inorder to obtain a higher lift of the cap during the removal operation.

Referring to Fig. 25, the tool I00 is shown as being associated with onesize of cap I96 for the purpose of illustrating the camming action ofthe camming portions defining the teeth. From this figure it will bereadily observed that upon depressing of the handle of the tool to raisethe arms 28 and 30 upwardly about the under curved portions 32 of thearms as fulcrums, the portion H6 will engage the rim of the cap and camthe rim upwardly. As downward movement of the handle is continued, thecap rim will slide downwardly on the surface I I6 and finally restwithin the cutaway portion where the portion II6 joins the tooth II2.Further downward movement of the handle will result in removal of thecap, it being understood that one of the appropriate teeth of the arm 28also engages the cap rim. In like manner the portions II8, I20, I22 andI24 also function as camming portions, depending upon the size of thecaps to be removed. It will also be seen from the above, that suchcamming portions effectively prevent the teeth of the arms fromprojecting too far beneath the cap rim as to engage and look under theglass flange of the ar.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that the presentinvention provides a unitary prying type of tool, which is adapted to avariety of uses. For example, the tool may be used for effectivelyremoving jar caps of different sizes from jars, bottles, and containersof the type having pressed-on caps and which jars and bottles possess aneck, flange or shoulder which functions as a fulcrum support for thecamming action of the arms when the tool is in use. In operations ofthis character, the spacing of the teeth on the various arms insurescomplete and efficient adaptability to caps of different sizes. andremoval thereof easily effected without damaging the cap in any mannerwhatsoever and without breaking or chipping the glass. This is decidedlyadvantageous. when only a portion of the contents of the container areused and it is desired to recap the container for future use.

In addition to the foregoing, the tool is also capable of eflicientoperation in removing caps from containers of the jelly glass type whichare not provided with a flange or neck which could function as a fulcrumsupport for the camming arms of the tool. For such use, severaldifferent arrangements have been provided, all of them involving one ormore hooks or projections which are adapted to fit beneath the rim ofthe flange of the cap. The action of the hook or hooks, in springing theflange and edge of the cap without marring the top surface of the cap isdecidedly advantageous in that the cap is removed with entire absence ofpermanent bends or folds. Hence the container may be readily recappedfor subsequent use.

While several forms of the invention have been illustrated and describedherein, with considerable particularity, it will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications maybe made therein, without popularly-known as Mason,,Ball, Kerr, Atlasandother types of preserving jars are included in.

this category. It is also .intended to include such containers forpackagingcheese, fish and other commodities where no .shoulder orrfiangeis provided. While it is preferred to depress or lower the tool inremoving capsfrom jarsof the.

type shown in Figs. 4 and 4a, it will be understood that the caps'rnayvhes-removed by raising the tool if desired. Also, if desired, the toolmay be lowered instead eof'raised, in removing caps from jars of thetypeshown in Fig.1.16.

Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims fora definitionof *thetlimits-bf the invention;

This application is a continuation in part of my application, SerialNumber 658,802,'filed- 'April' 1, 1946, issued January -3, .1950, Patent.No. 2,493,438, for Jar cap removing tool.

What is claimed is:

l. A tool for removing jar caps from jars of the type having an annularshoulder, and wherein the cap is vacuum sealed and is provided with anannular rim, the loweredge of which is spaced above said shoulder,comprising a substantially fiat handle member formed at one end thereofwith a pair of spaced apart, substantially flat arms projectingoutwardly from one end of the handle in a plane offset with respect tothe plane of the handle, the handle being also formed at said end with acurved flange having opposite ends thereof connecting the arms with thehandle, said arms being provided with forward edges lying at symmetricalacute angles to the axis of the handle member so as to be substantiallytangent to the neck of a jar when said arms are inserted between thelower edge of the rim of a cap and the jar shoulder in cap removalposition, and being also provided with adjacent side edges lying atsymmetrical acute angles to the axis of the handle member so thatprolongations of said side edges would meet at a point within theconfines of the jar, and the lower edge of said flange and the adjacentside edges of said arms defining the boundaries of an open space toallow the tool to clear the jar shoulder as the tool is moved downwardlyto remove the cap.

2. A tool for removing jar caps from jars of the type having an annularshoulder, and wherein the cap is vacuum sealed and is provided with anannular rim the lower ed e of which is spaced above said shoulder,comprising a handle member having a pair of spaced apart arms projectingoutwardly from one end thereof for insertion between said shoulder andthe lower edge of the cap rim, to occupy an initial position, said armsbeing provided with front edges, outer edges and inner or adjacent edgesdefining inner and outer corners at the opposite ends of each frontedge, said outer corners engaging the jar shoulder and forming fulcrumsabout which each arm is pivoted when the handle member is raised fromits initial position to remove the cap, the front edges of the armslying at symmetrical acute angles with respect to the handle axis so asto be substantially tangential to the neck of the jar when the armsoccupy sai'd initial position, an'd a notch formedsomeachfr arm adjacentthe inner'corners thereof f0Ifp0Si tively engaging the lower edge' ofthecap rim and for positively preventing disengagementbf' the rim edgefrom=the notch when the handle member is raised to remove the capr 3. Atool for removing jar caps from jars ofr the type having "a beaded rimat the'top of the jar, an annular shoulder spaced below said rim, andwherein the cap-is vacuum sealed and is provided withan annular rimhaving its lower edge spaced above said 'shoulder, comprising a handlemember formed at one end-'thereofwith a pair of spacedapart,substantially flat arms 1 projecting outwardly and forwardl from said send, each arm'beingprovided'witha front edge which lies at an acuteangle to the axis of the handle member and-is substantially tangentialto the neck of a 'jar when said arms are pro= jected' between the jarshoulderand'thelower edge of the cap rim in cap removal position, andbeing also provided with adjacent side edges to engage the'jar shoulderandserve as fulcrums about whichthe arms are'pivoted as'the'handle=member is moved downwardly to remove the cap, and stop means formed oneach arnrfor limiting the distance'the arms-may project between saidedge of the rim and said shoulder during pivotal movement of each of thearms, to prevent the front edges from interlocking with the beaded rimof the jar as the cap is removed.

4. A tool for removing jar caps from jars of the type having a beadedrim at the top of the jar, an annular shoulder spaced below said rim,and wherein the cap is vacuum sealed and is provided with an annular rimhaving its lower edge spaced above said shoulder, comprising a handlemember formed at one end thereof with a pair of spaced apart,substantially flat arms projecting outwardly and forwardly from saidend, each arm being provided with'front, and outer and inner or adjacentside edges, said side edges forming inner and outer corners with eachfront edge, each front edge lying at an acute angle to the axis of thehandle member so as to be substantially tangential to the neck of a jarwhen said arms are projected between the jar shoulder and the lower edgeof the cap rim in cap removal position, and the adjacent side edgesserving as fulcrums about which the arms are pivoted as the handlemember is moved downwardly to remove the cap, each of said front edgesbeing formed between the inner and outer corners with a projecting toothpositioned beneath the edge of the cap rim when the tool is placed insaid cap removal position, the portions of the front edges between theteeth and the outer corners of the arms engaging the lower edge of thecap rim to limit the distance the teeth may project beneath said rimedge during pivotal movement of each of the arms, to prevent the teethfrom interlocking with the beaded rim of the jar as the cap is removed.

5. A tool for removing jar caps from jars of the type having a beadedrim at the top of the jar, an annular shoulder spaced below said rim,and wherein the cap is vacuum sealed and is provided with an annular rimhaving its lower edge spaced above said shoulder, comprising a handlemember formed at one end thereof with a pair of spaced apart,substantially fiat arms projecting outwardly and forwardly from saidend, each arm being provided with front, and outer and inner or adjacentside edges, said side edges forming inner and outer corners with each 15front edge, each front edge lying at an acute angle to the axis of thehandle member so as to be substantially tangential to the neck of a jarwhen said arms are projected between the jar shoulder and the lower edgeof the cap rim in cap removal position, and the adjacent side edgesserving as fulcrums about which the arms are pivoted as the handlemember is moved downwardly to remove the cap, each of said front edgesbeing formed between the inner and outer 10 corners with a pair ofprojecting teeth lying in the plane of each respective arm, the adjacentteeth being positioned beneath the edge of the cap rim when the tool isplaced in said cap removal position, and the adjacent sides of theremote teeth engaging the lower edge of the cap rim to limit thedistance the adjacent teeth may project beneath said rim edge duringpivotal movement of each of the arms to prevent the adjacent teeth frominterlocking with the beaded rim of the jar as the cap is removed.

6. A tool as defined in claim 5 wherein said adjacent side edges lie atacute angles to the axis of the handle member so that prolongations ofsaid side edges would meet at a point within the confines of the jar.

EMILE G. BOUCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 47,850 Hutter Sept. 21, 1915278,192 Stanwood May 22, 1883 1,014,529 Slusser Jan. 9, 1912 1,256,883Drysdale Feb. 19, 1918 1,641,152 Burleigh Sept. 6, 1927 2,431,550 GaryNov. 25, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,889 Germany Apr.26, 1919 94,409 Switzerland May 1, 1922 116,925 Switzerland Oct. 1, 192641,341 Denmark Dec. 12, 1929 690,191 France -1 June 16, 1930 339,516Italy Apr. 23, 1936 517,142 Great Britain Jan. 22, 1940

